Michael Mace asked,
>I'd like to ask your help in collecting feedback for the government. This
>is just the first round of proposed species bans, and I think it's important
>that we get ourselves involved in the process. The government has said in
>writing that it is open to feedback from groups like ours, and I think we
>should take them up on that invitation.
>
>1. If you are in the US, do you grow Gladiolus undulatus or Alstroemeria
>aurea today? If not, have you tried them in the past?
I have grown Alstroemeria aurea for at least 12 years, and it is very
well established in cultivation in North America. It is also a parent
or other ancestor of many hybrids that are cultivated here.
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>2. In your conditions, were they invasive? Were they easy or difficult to
>keep growing?
This species did not appear to be invasive in northwestern Oregon,
but it is easy to keep growing. In the similar climate of south
central Chile, it forms large colonies and even comes up through
thickets of introduced blackberries. I can imagine it being an
enthusiastic feral plant if it escaped in a favorable (moderately
warm winters, plenty of rain) climate, but it is neither toxic to
livestock nor overly competitive with other plants. The fact that it
hasn't yet been identified as a threat after many decades of
cultivation in North America suggests that it will not become so.
Some gardeners will not plant it because of its extensive root system, though.
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>3. Do you know of any sources for them in the US?
A. aurea is widely available.
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>4. If you are a grower outside the US, have you supplied these species to
>people in the US in the past?